BGB and intelligence agencies on strict vigil to prevent pushback at Bangladesh border

POBNEWS24, Dhaka May 26, 2026 : Several “so-called” Bangladeshis suspected of being Bangladeshis have been detained and kept in “holding centers” in Maldah and Murshidabad in West Bengal and the Bangladesh Border Guard Force (BGB) has stepped up security in border areas after receiving allegations that they will be pushed back.
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now in power in the border states of Tripura, West Bengal and Assam. The governments of the states have recently announced that they will tackle the problem of undocumented migration on a priority basis.
Earlier this month, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri told reporters that the Indian government has requested Bangladesh to verify the nationality of more than 2,860 people. Authorities claim that the people are Bangladeshis and are living in India illegally. However, no official statement has been received from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on the matter.
Meanwhile, the 60th Battalion of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has started an awareness campaign in the border areas of Brahmanbaria district since Sunday. They are using microphones to warn everyone to be alert about attempts to forcefully push people across the border into Bangladesh.
60th Battalion Commander Lt. Col. S. M. Shariful Islam told this correspondent, “We have started miking in the villages in the border area to create awareness among the residents and to be alert against attempts to forcefully push them.” He said that the Bangladesh Border Guard Force has intensified patrolling and public awareness campaigns in various parts of the border adjacent to India due to concerns that people will be forcibly pushed from India.
He added, “Patrols and surveillance have been intensified across the border area.” Intelligence activities are also ongoing to prevent illegal infiltration, human trafficking and smuggling of drugs and other goods.”
Bangladesh and India share a border of more than 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles). About 73 kilometers of this, one of the world’s longest land borders, fall in three upazilas of Brahmanbaria district in eastern Bangladesh. That part is adjacent to the Indian state of Tripura. Bangladesh also shares a border with the northeastern Indian state of Assam. Hundreds of people have been sent back to Bangladesh through these areas since May 2025. Earlier, 30,000 people were identified as ‘foreigners’ by various tribunals in Assam. However, several human rights organizations believe that Indian authorities have arbitrarily expelled people from the country. Bangladesh has repeatedly said that any repatriation should follow a formal bilateral process and not push anyone across the border unilaterally and forcibly.
Meanwhile, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s victory in West Bengal, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been instructed to be vigilant to prevent push-ins into Bangladesh, and the push-in issue was also discussed at the district magistrates’ conference, and intelligence surveillance has been increased in the border areas, said Home Minister Salahuddin Uddin Ahmed.